Passing of Michael Jackson
Today morning as I browsed thru Google news - the untimely demise of the rock star Michael Jackson flashed across on major news sites. A singing sensation and a wholesome entertainer who had a massive world following cutting across national boudaries. It is said that early fame and money takes its own toll. Why did Jackson become reclusive in mid life? Why does fame, money corrupt individuals? This is very important to understand. Because majority of middle class is pursuing these ideals of fame and riches. The case of Jackson makes us sceptical - why does fame and money consume the owner? What happens when this goal is met more than expectation? Its important to delve on this from the perspective of the Gita.
Culture of a nation or society is known primarily by what the citizens value and crave for. In contrast to the capitalistic western culture, the vedic society valued attainment of spiritual status. A brahmana who valued and practiced simple living and high thinking was respected more than a wayward rich person. So in such a culture the rich also tried to be brahminical to obtain social status. They sponsored big temples and cultural centers propagating divine music, charity by distribution of sattvic food etc. A type of spiritual communism was achieved thru distribution of wealth. The poor were well fed and taken care of. When real Brahamans are there in a society, auspiciousness is guaranteed. The Brahmana at the helm as a advisor to the king ensures that the whole society is involved in Yajna or satisfaction of the senses of the Supreme being. Music dance cuisine are all done for the satisfaction of the diety manifestation of the supreme being. It is said that Lakshmi cannot be enjoyed by exploitation. Sri Lakshmi is meant for the satisfaction of Sriman Narayana. So money which is Lakshmi sakti when employed in building Visnu temples give bliss joy and prosperity. But when money is used excessively for ones own refined sense pleasure, it brings about the downfall. This is rakshasi pravrtti - the paradigm that iam the center of the universe and everything is meant for my own enjoyment. The daivi prakrti is of service nature. The feeling goes like this - 'Iam a component meant to serve the complete whole - the paramapurusa'. When leaders in a society are of daivi prakrti, dharma rules and overall auspiciousness is spread. Citizens experience contentment.
Nowadays contentment as a goal of life is out of fashion. For contentment one need not increase ones wealth or social prestige. It is the art of attaining internal peace with the status quo. The senses are trained to be satisfied with the present acquisition. How this is possible? The art of yoga tames the senses and senses become ambitious in internal attainment of spiritual ecstacy. When people hear about contentment they shrug it off thinking this is for a loser and not for ambitious folks. The essence of vedas is to place ambition in the right direction. Ambition for enhancing internal spiritual growth and contentment for the external senses.
Wait for next week - will continue .................
Culture of a nation or society is known primarily by what the citizens value and crave for. In contrast to the capitalistic western culture, the vedic society valued attainment of spiritual status. A brahmana who valued and practiced simple living and high thinking was respected more than a wayward rich person. So in such a culture the rich also tried to be brahminical to obtain social status. They sponsored big temples and cultural centers propagating divine music, charity by distribution of sattvic food etc. A type of spiritual communism was achieved thru distribution of wealth. The poor were well fed and taken care of. When real Brahamans are there in a society, auspiciousness is guaranteed. The Brahmana at the helm as a advisor to the king ensures that the whole society is involved in Yajna or satisfaction of the senses of the Supreme being. Music dance cuisine are all done for the satisfaction of the diety manifestation of the supreme being. It is said that Lakshmi cannot be enjoyed by exploitation. Sri Lakshmi is meant for the satisfaction of Sriman Narayana. So money which is Lakshmi sakti when employed in building Visnu temples give bliss joy and prosperity. But when money is used excessively for ones own refined sense pleasure, it brings about the downfall. This is rakshasi pravrtti - the paradigm that iam the center of the universe and everything is meant for my own enjoyment. The daivi prakrti is of service nature. The feeling goes like this - 'Iam a component meant to serve the complete whole - the paramapurusa'. When leaders in a society are of daivi prakrti, dharma rules and overall auspiciousness is spread. Citizens experience contentment.
Nowadays contentment as a goal of life is out of fashion. For contentment one need not increase ones wealth or social prestige. It is the art of attaining internal peace with the status quo. The senses are trained to be satisfied with the present acquisition. How this is possible? The art of yoga tames the senses and senses become ambitious in internal attainment of spiritual ecstacy. When people hear about contentment they shrug it off thinking this is for a loser and not for ambitious folks. The essence of vedas is to place ambition in the right direction. Ambition for enhancing internal spiritual growth and contentment for the external senses.
Wait for next week - will continue .................
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